What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a symptom of several different underlying causes. It’s an experience of ringing or other noises in one or both ears. It is not caused by external sound. Cervical spine or jaw dysfunction are frequently associated with tinnitus, therefore assessing and treating both the musculoskeletal system of the neck and jaw is important to have an impact on tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a common problem and affects ~20% of people, common in adults and twice as common in women. It is also eight times more prevalent in the presence of Temporomandibular Disorder. It can be constant or intermittent and can vary in pitch and volume. It can have a moderate to severe impact on one’s quality of life.

Seeing an Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) specialist is an important step to identify any underlying condition that might be causing the tinnitus.

While it is possible to eradicate tinnitus, depending on type and cause, manual therapy has shown to play a very supportive role in influencing the presentation of tinnitus.

Symptoms of Tinnitus:

• Rhythmic pulsing

• Humming

• Whooshing

• Whistling

• Ringing

• Clicking

• Buzzing

• Roaring

• Hissing

Causes of Tinnitus:

• Stress

• Allergies

• Ear injury

• Prescription drugs

• Exposure to loud noises

• Meniere’s disease

• Excessive earwax

• Benign tumor

• Foreign object